Ramsar Designation Guidelines

Grant Agreement nr.: WGP1 30 GPI 2c Allocated by internal Terms of Reference

Agreement holder: Wetlands International

Country/region: Global (for Ramsar Convention)

Activity period: 01/04/2001 – 30/06/2001

Objectives and results:

The Ramsar Convention, Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) called for a Peatland Working Group following COP7 decisions, to promote designation of wetlands under-represented in the Ramsar List.

• Wetlands International, a member of the STRP, was asked to co-lead the Group, and to draft the Designation Guidelines for Peatlands, for adoption at COP8.

• This work was commissioned under Terms of Reference within Wetlands International, as a contribution to the STRP

Achieved:

• During 2001, and through the "Peatlands/Mires Task Force Working Group", draft "Guidelines for the identification of peatlands/mires as wetlands of international importance and their designation as Ramsar Sites", were prepared for the STRP. STRP adopted the second draft at the 27-29 June 2001 meeting.

• Ramsar Standing Committee in December 2001, adopted the draft Resolution COP8 DR11 on Designation of underrepresented wetland types (see http://www.ramsar.org/cop8_dr_11_e.htm)

• The Conference of the Parties adopted DR11 (rev1) at COP8, Valencia.

Wetlands International, as the nominated focal point for the Peatland Working Group, had led the early development of the Guidelines, as confirmed at STRP9 (June/July 2000). In 2001, considerable extra work was called for to elaborate the guidance and to research the application of the Ramsar Criteria for Site Designation. Wetlands International led a series of contact group meetings and discussions, culminating in the approval at Standing Committee of a much elaborated version of the Guidelines, complete with appended peatland/mire glossary. The completion of the Guidelines was a major success in uniting the opinions of the International Peat Society, and the International Mire Conservation Group, concerning selection and designation of peatlands/mire for protection as Ramsar Sites.